A petition calling for the killers of PC Andrew Harper to remain in prison has reached one million signatures, hitting the milestone quietly ahead of the fifth anniversary of the officer’s death.
PC Harper was killed in August 2019 while responding to a burglary in Berkshire. The Thames Valley officer, who had been married for just four weeks, was dragged along a road and killed after his ankle became caught in a strap attached to a getaway car. He was 28 years old.
Three teenagers were convicted over his death. Henry Long, then 19, was jailed for 16 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18 at the time, received 13-year sentences after being found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
The sentences caused widespread outrage, with many feeling justice had not been served for an officer who died in the line of duty. That anger has never gone away.
Lou Harper, Andrew’s widow, has spent the years since his death campaigning tirelessly to change the law and ensure his killers are not released early. Her efforts led to the creation of Harper’s Law, which came into force in 2022 and made it mandatory for anyone convicted of killing an emergency worker to receive a life sentence. It was a significant legal victory, but it applied only to future cases, meaning the men who killed her husband were not affected.
The petition, which demands that Long, Bowers and Cole serve their sentences in full without early release, has now gathered one million names. According to those close to the campaign, the milestone was acknowledged without fanfare, a reflection of the quiet but determined nature of the movement that has built up around Andrew’s memory.
Long has already been released on licence after serving half his sentence, a decision that caused fresh anger among supporters of the campaign and within the policing community. The focus now falls on Bowers and Cole, who could also be eligible for release having served a portion of their time.
Lou Harper has been open about how difficult the years since Andrew’s death have been, not just personally but in watching the legal process unfold. She has spoken at Conservative and Labour party events, met with ministers and refused to let the case fade from public view. The petition is a reflection of how many people across England share her frustration.
Police federations and officers across the country have backed the campaign, arguing that those who kill members of the emergency services should face the full weight of their sentences. For many in the policing world, the case remains a raw wound, a reminder of the dangers officers face and the feeling that the justice system did not go far enough.
The anniversary of PC Harper’s death brings his story back into focus each year, and the one million signature mark gives the campaign renewed momentum. Supporters are hoping the number puts pressure on the government and the Parole Board when decisions about the remaining prisoners come up for review.
Andrew Harper was described by colleagues and family as a dedicated officer and a kind, generous person who had everything to live for. His death, on a quiet country road in the early hours of the morning, shocked the nation. Five years on, the campaign in his name shows no sign of slowing down.